If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Hybrid View

(2) 20 frame extractors vs (1) 50 or 60 frame extractor

This may be a stupid question....but can you spin more honey out faster with (2) smaller extractors vs (1) larger extractor. I am thinking that with two smaller extractors there would be an extractor spinning all the time and hardly no down time. With one large extractor, there would be more down time to load and unload. I am already thinking about next year and improving my extraction set up.

Re: (2) 20 frame extractors vs (1) 50 or 60 frame extractor

There is typically a shorter spin period on the larger extractors because the frames are farther from the axle. A 20 frame extractor can hold 30-40 med/shallows if you don't drop them into the slots. A 60 could be stacked up the same way. With a larger extractor and a silver queen one man can uncap while the extractor is spinning, and then load himself. Of course this could also be done with two smaller extractors, but with the two small you can have one uncapping and one loading if you have a good worker.

Re: (2) 20 frame extractors vs (1) 50 or 60 frame extractor

Been there done that. In my early years I ran to 20 frames for the first year. That is a total of 40 and you still have to load and unload either the 20's or the 60. One 60 is faster than two twenty's if you are by yourself. It also dpends on if you are using a hot knife or a good uncapper or Bogie or a good crew. Before I retired I ran 6 80's, 2 bogies. We ran 60 barrels through in a 24 hour period. Since I am now old and do it by myself I have two 50's and an uncapper. I can do about a 900 to 1000 lbs an hour with full deep supers.

Re: (2) 20 frame extractors vs (1) 50 or 60 frame extractor

I jumped to a 20-frame extractor, then bought a 12-frame thinking I could spin one while uncapping for the other.

I could not keep up with the two extractors unless I hired help. I keep bees at odd hours and help is hard to find with such a flexible schedle. So I sold the 12-frame.

Now I uncap 20 frames while 20 are spinning. In the time it takes me to uncap 20 frames, the extractor has done it's job. With another person, I could probably do more but one extractor is all I can handle.

Re: (2) 20 frame extractors vs (1) 50 or 60 frame extractor

2 extractors means less handling of frames as well as honey being spun while the other extractor is being filled. I know there are people who uncap and stand frames on a carousel, empty an extractor and then move frames from the carousel to the extractor. Less handling of frames to just put them in an extractor after uncapping.